I went to do another load of dishes. The citric acid made it clump up. Weird! It still did a nice job, but I had to break it up and shake it a bit. I am thinking maybe I will keep the citric acid separate and just add it when I start the washer.
I mentioned in my last post there would be more on natural cleaners. There are lots of recipes on line, but I didn't want to post anything until I had tried it and I liked it. So, after many loads of chalky dishes, I have solved the cheap and natural dishwasher detergent mystery.
My dishwasher has always left a chalky film on my dishes. Different detergents left varying degrees of chalky, but no matter how light the gritty film is on a glass, you still don't want to drink out of it. I tried Jet Dry, no bueno, no worko, mucho gritto. So, when I tried my natural concoction, no surprise, the dishes came out gritty.
Tuesday night, after I re-washed all of my glasses and silverware by hand, and kicked the dishwasher a few times, I decided to do a little research on-line. I realized my problem was not the detergent, but the hard water build up in the washer. The miracle product that is the rage on all the natural mommy blogs is Lemi-Shine, available at Target and The Store That Must Not Be Named. 
Really I think it is just citric acid, but it really does work like a miracle. You put it in the detergent cup, run your dishwasher empty for about 5-10 minutes, stop the dishwasher and leave the water in it overnight, and then finish the cycle in the morning.
I did my first load of dishes in my clean dishwasher with my homemade detergent last night and they came out clean and slick, no grit!
So here is the recipe for homemade dishwasher detergent that works!
Yes, I have New Year's resolutions. Oh yes! I do.
1. To be less of a Judgmental Jerk Wad. I realize I am judgmental. I am very intolerant of people who are intolerant. And yes, I realize that this is hypocritical, and I hate hypocritical people. They are so fake. So, you see the inherent problem with my behavior.
So, the specifics on how I will achieve this goal. I will not talk bad about individuals to anyone but my husband. (Hey, a girl's gotta vent sometime.) I will only make fun of stereotypical groups of people (i.e. Typical Wal-mart Shoppers) and I will only do it for the sake of humor, not maliciously.
2. To live a less processed and chemical life. I find the concept of sustainability very intriguing. Honestly, I would love to live on lots of acreage somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with a few close friends, raise yummy organic food and make as much stuff as we can. The boys will still go to work, the kids will feed the goats and chickens while me and my friends knit cute hats made from angora rabbit fur to sell at the local farmer's market. I don't see it happening any time soon, but it is a nice little dream.
Until then, we will eat our own chicken eggs. We will have a garden, dagnabbit! I will continue to use cloth diapers. I will make as much of our food from scratch as I can. No more cream of salt and MSG soup, no more cans of dough that pop, no more store bought mixes (with the exception of brownie mix, because homemade just aren't the same!) I am going to check around and find some locally grown meats and if we can afford it, we will eat it. I have also started experimenting with homemade natural cleaners. There will be lots more on this later, but so far it has been very fun and the stuff really works and works well!
So far that is it for my New Year's resolutions. I would like to add that I am going to quit caffeine, but we all know that is a fantasy. Maybe someday they will invent a patch or a pill like the ones to get off nicotine. Until that day, give me my Diet Coke and no body gets spanked!
Isn't it amazing how the day you become a mother you are endowed with super hearing powers. In the middle of the night, all my kids have to do is breath funny and I am instantly awake and alert. I swear I can hear them thinking about crying.
Night after night, I am the one to rush down the hall to comfort a little one. When I go back to my bed (which is now cold), I listen to my peacefully sleeping husband's soft snores and I ponder yet another injustice in the genders. Then I "accidentally" kick him in the shin.
I haven't felt inspired to write lately. The usual fodder for my writing flame is stuff that irritates me and lately I haven't been irritated. Perhaps it's the weather.
Really I think it is partly that I am starting a little on-line business and it keeps my brain going. It is kind of filling the creative void that has been increasing in depth ever since I quit working. I am pretty sure it won't be amazing. I am positive I won't be the next famous bloggy hip stay at home mommy with amazing pictures of my gorgeous, perfect children sporting my newest creations, but I am having fun and hopefully it will make enough money to pay for more fabric to make more stuff.
I am also running with some girls from church. Love those endorphins. Love making new friends. Maybe I will lose a little of my BIF (Butt in Front).
Anyway, the late night talk shows are beginning, which means I have been messing around on the internet for way too long. Off to bed! Here's to more joyful days!
I have been thinking about starting a little business on-line selling nursing covers and hopefully diapers made from recycled T-shirts. The diapers are proving to be a little more difficult to get going (more on that later).
Anyway, I have been trying to think of a business name so I can put together a website. Any ideas? I am fresh out of creativity today.
Scarf for Sis N Law.
Reversible capes (idea stolen from my cousin) for monkey boy and niece and nephews.
Sun painted fat quarters for my quiltin' momma.
